We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Cummings and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I don’t believe in a “work-life balance.” For me, it’s truly about working my business into my life, because there is so much give and take. Especially with the pandemic, what was considered a “work-life balance” has changed for a lot of people, especially moms. So many of us wear 1,000 different hats as moms all the time that it’s truly impossible to ever find “balance.”

Even thinking about the concept of “balance” in yoga class, you need so many things working together. You need breath, you need strength, you need focus, and you need ease. Balancing is not effortless, one just learns how to make everything work together, and I think there is a common misconception that if you find a “work-life balance” life gets easier somehow. In reality, it’s deciding whether you fit your business into your life or your life into your business. Just like in class, you decide where you need more breath, where you need more grounding, or where you need less tension.

At YESyoga, it was part of our business plan that it was a family-friendly place. Being mom-owned means that is important for my family to be able to support me at work and see what I’m up to, and for them to be included. I want the studio to be a place my family loves to come, and adding a babysitting room and service was a great way to incorporate adding my business into my life.

My family comes with me while I teach every Sunday, and now that we have our babysitting program back open, it was something I realized that I really missed during the shutdown and after. I also realized having my family there, showed a lot of other people that it was possible to create healthy habits as a family together.

The other huge part of incorporating my business into my life is realizing where my time is most valuable and where my time is most needed. When the studio first opened back in 2018, I thought I needed to be there every hour of every day. Now, I am much more inclined to take a vacation when needed or even a mental health day. I realized that just because I am “at work” or “with my family” doesn’t mean I’m actually adding value or present. Now in 2021, I really try to stick to a set schedule, and I’m really focused on asking for help in areas where my time is served better elsewhere, even at home.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
YESyoga is really about incorporating the yoga you learn into your life. If you can create a mind/body connection on your mat in a yoga pose or seated while practicing meditation, you can totally re-create that at home or work. It’s about saying YES and finding the courage to try a new pose, so you know what that feeling is like so that you can find the courage to have a hard conversation or hit that “apply” button for a new job.

I’m in constant awe at our clients at the studio. I’m so proud of our community because it is full of people who are passionate, purposeful, and wake up every day to say YES to truly living into the vision they want. Each person I’ve seen grow because they take their time on their mat seriously, and it helps them focus and be able to live their lives on and with purpose.

Living into your vision seems like a dream, and I have to tell myself every day I’m living the life I have set out. It’s not easy. Running a business isn’t easy. You only ever overcome a challenge because you want to, you have to want to keep going to figure out how to get out of whatever is holding you back. There are endless stories of failure told by insanely successful people, and it was their passion and purpose to keep going.

That’s why YESyoga is important, because if you want to overcome a challenge you have to say YES to something to keep going, and it’s probably just yourself. Sometimes, it’s as simple as taking a yoga class.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite restaurant in Houston is Xochi. PERIOD! I’ve taken so many of my friends and family there, it’s such a cool vibe, good drinks, great food!

My weekly happy hour spot is Vino & Vinyl! They are part of our Sugar Land Town Square community, and it’s the best spot there.

Blockhouse Coffee & Kitchen in Richmond has the most unique and awesome coffee syrups, and their veggie club sandwich is on point!

Honestly, I could talk about Houston food all day long!

As a family, we love to hit up the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Zoo! We also love walking to Tiny’s Milk and Cookies every weekend, their ice cream is especially good after a long morning of my son’s soccer!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband for sure!!!!!

He’s the best. We’ve known each other since we were 16, and we’ve grown into adults together. We both lean on each other a lot because we both have stressful jobs. To have someone be so supportive and constantly rooting for me really keeps me going.

We are BIG on celebration, and try to always celebrate any win either one of us has!

Website: www.yesyogastudio.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/yesyogastudiotx

Facebook: www.facebook.com/yesyogastudiotx

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yesyoga-sugar-land

Image Credits
Images by K. Mamou Photography & Edoo Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.